Amanda’s SD Concert Calendar 11/9-11/15

This week has been an absolute run around for me. I haven’t had much time for anything except the usual necessities of life. My big accomplishment being that I made it to the gym 3 times this week. Yay for me! This past week also included a fair amount of naps, which was nice. Hopefully this week I will have more time and energy for other endeavors. The big this for us this week is The San Diego Music Thing with some heavy hitters like; The Joy Formidable, The Moth & the Flame, Milo Greene, Blitzen Trapper, and The Album Leaf just to name a few. But if you’re not inclined for those shenanigans, there are lots of other options this week. Have fun!

 

Monday: The Nightowls, Rebecca Jade & The Cold Fact @ Soda Bar at 9pm
AND: Rob Machado Benefit Concert feat. Matt Nathanson, Brett Dennen at 8pm

Tuesday: Moon Taxi @ Belly Up at 8pm
AND: Collective Soul @ House of Blues at 8pm
AND: The Menzingers with mewithoutYou @ Observatory North Park at 7pm
AND: Mother Falcon @ soda Bar at 9pm

Wednesday: Shook Twins @ Soda Bar at 9pm
AND: Brian Marquis @ House of Blues at 7pm
AND: Kid Wilderness, Justin Froese, Tyson Motsenbocker @ Belly Up at 8pm

ThursdaySan Diego Music Thing

FridaySan Diego Music Thing
AND: Mayday Parade @ Soma at 6:30pm
AND: Circa Survive, RX Bandits @ House of Blues at 8pm- SOLD OUT
AND: Houndmouth @ Belly Up at 9pm- SOLD OUT
AND: Lillian LeFranc @ The Balboa at 9pm

SaturdaySan Diego Music Thing
AND: Dead Feather Moon, Oliver Trolley @ Music Box at 9pm
AND: Hunter Hunted @ House of Blues at 8pm
AND: Modern Baseball @ Lamppost Warehouse at 7pm
AND: Heart @ Harrah’s Resort at 8pm

Sunday: X Ambassadors @ Observatory North Park at 6:30pm
AND: The Jackson Price Band @ Sycamore Den at 9pm
AND: Squeeze @ House of Blues at 8pm
AND: Escape The Fate @ Soma at 6:30pm

 

Keep in Mind:
November 19th/20th- Ryan Bingham, Jamestown Revival @ Belly Up
November 21st- Everclear @ Music Box
November 21st- Minus the Bear @ Observatory North Park
November 22nd- Rise Against @ Soma
November 22nd- Yellowcard, New Found Glory @ House of Blues
November 22nd- Lucero @ Belly Up
November 24th- Jackie Green @ Observatory North Park
November 24th- BØRNS @  Belly Up
November 27th- Copeland, Eisley @ Irenic
November 27th- Robert Delong @ Music Box
November 29th- James Bay @ Belly Up
December 5th- Milk Carton Kids @ Balboa Theater
December 15th- The 1975 @ Observatory North Park
December 16th- Muse @ Valley View Casino Center
December 30th- The Academy Is… @ Observatory North Park

Must See Show: Rags & Ribbons at Bootleg HiFi 10/8

RagsAndRibbons_Mirror

Portland trio, Rags & Ribbons have been on our must see list since they played the opening notes of “Magnesium Dream” at their Overture Con performance last year. The harmonies! The piano! The pulsating, hypnotic beats! This band deserves your attention and if you’re in So-Cal, you’re in luck as they are currently in the middle of their West Coast tour. Wednesday night, Oct. 8th, they will grace the stage at Bootleg HiFi in Los Angeles. Here are 8 reasons you need to be at that show (4 from us and 4 from Rags & Ribbon’s singer/guitarist Ben Weyerhauser:

Our take:

1. Pianos rock! – Who can resist a hook-y piano driven tune? Rags & Ribbons does piano rock right.

2. You enjoy a good live show – the recordings are great, but there is something magnetic that happens when the three guys of Rags & Ribbons take the stage together

3. The venue – If they can drive all the way down from Portland, you can certainly drive across town to The Bootleg. The venue is my current favorite in Silverlake. Street parking is never a challenge, there is a nice patio area great for in-between set chit-chat, and they serve ginger beer and sparkling apple cider. Bonus points if the back room is open with its comfy seats, ginormous wall TV, and ping pong table.

4. This video– This video from “Even Matter”, a song off their debut album, The Glass Masses has converted several of my facebook friends into fans. Press play and see if it does the trick for you.

Ben’s take:

5.. The lineup – Rags & Ribbons plays at 9pm, opening for LA rockers Kiven and that band has been on fire lately.

6.  The sound is right – The band is traveling with their own sound guy, so they will be sounding their very best

7. Last chance! – This is the last time Rags & Ribbons  will be in LA this year and it might be awhile before you have the chance to see them again

8. The industry is coming– It’s an important show for the band. If you’re already a fan, they would love to see you and have your support.

 

See you at the show!

 

~ Kristen

New Band Alert: The Tragic Thrills

Once upon a time there was a pop band called Allstar Weekend. They were wildly popular, having toured all over the world and enjoying the perks of being a Disney-esque pop band. Then one day, they went into the studio to record a new album and realized they were a completely different band with a different sound than before. Thus began the transformation from AllStar Weekend to The Tragic Thrills.

Below is their newly released video for their single “Tears”

 

 

They’ve only played a handful of shows so far but if you like what you see (hear) you can catch them tonight (10/25) at the Bootleg with Irontom.

 

Important Links:

Website: http://thetragicthrills.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetragicthrills

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TragicThrills

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1gr6TzE

Video Premiere: Nightmare and the Cat- Be Your Own God

LA based rockers Nightmare and the Cat have released their new video “Be Your Own God” from their debut EP Simple. While not the same as being able to see them kick some serious butt on stage, the next best thing is imagining this video was shot in your living room.

If you like what you see (and hear) you can catch them this Sunday 10/27 in LA at the El Rey with Sky Ferreira.

 

All the important links:

Website: http://nightmareandthecat.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nightmareandthecat

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nightmareandcat

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nightmareandthecat/sets/nightmare-and-the-cat

 

New Band Love: Irontom

“I think tonight I’ll be head banging in my sleep” – friend after seeing Irontom for the first time

The quote is particularly relevant as it came from someone who’s last shows with me were Joshua Radin, Rachael Yamagata, and Ryan Cabrera.  Irontom is…well, not like that.

Yes, this band is full of young promising talent. Yes, the music is fresh and exciting. Yes, there are quite a few bands that could be described as such. What sets Irontom apart is the seductive energy that comes through every rockin’ guitar lick or dramatic flick of frontman Harry Hayes’ hands. There is something about the band that can make just about anyone feel the groove and start to dance. They are that band that the more you listen to, the more you crave.

I’ve seen the band twice in the last week, so my craving is pretty extreme. Fortunately, the band is playing again next week opening for The Parlotones: Monday (May 6th) in San Diego at The Griffin and Tuesday (May 7th) at The Roxy.

If you can’t make it to Southern California, here are some other links to help you get more familiar with Irontom. Their The Loose EP can be downloaded on iTunes and the band has a new EP coming out something this month. Friend, follow, etc the band to get the details!

website

facebook

twitter

tumblr

 

~ Kristen

 

LMN Interview: Bethpage Black

Neurotic band members, an oddly defined sound and cheese. Say hello to Los Angeles’ own Bethpage Black

 

Los Angeles-town has no shortage of bands for me to talk about but we’re going to change things up a bit and let the band talk about itself. Why? Well, why not?

Bethpage Black (http://bethpage-black.com/) is two things: a world famous golf course and a band that thinks to be defined by a whole new genre unto itself. “We call it ‘Sickle Pop,’” explains drummer-songwriter Steve Coy. “It’s aggressive pop-rock with a slight metal edge.”

Intriguing. As an up and coming band in LA, Bethpage Black has been making the rounds at local venues like the Viper Room and radio play on KROQ. On March 8th they’re primed to hit yet another renowned LA stage: the Troubadour for a night of rock solid local bands including the Crash Kings, the Active Set, and Light FM. I cornered Steve Coy for a little more info on the band.

LMN: So how long has the band been in existence? Who are the players and why are they here?

Steve Coy: In its current and best lineup, since May 2011, the players are me, Matt Carmichael (Vox/guitar), Davin Givhan (guitar), and Vivien Larena (bass). Collectively we are here I think because we like playing in a band where every song is a new experience instead of the “soundalike” scene where not only do 20 bands sound the same, but all 20 of their songs (if they have that many), sound the same. We’ve had people tell us our songs sound like everything from Death From Above 1979 to the Ataris to Muse to The Used to U2, and that’s definitely by design.

LMN:  What’s the musical definition of Bethpage Black?

Steve Coy: Bethpage Black is an effort to, as our guitarist Davin says, “always write better songs.” it’s a starkly simple statement but I think it’s our driving force, along with executing those songs better every time we play.

A visual aid, anyone? Video- “Losing My Nerve”

LMN:  Got it. Is that why you spend your spare time playing drums when there are homeless kittens around the world that need love?

Steve Coy: I’ve been many things in my life: Chef at LA’s #1 restaurant, web designer for major recording artists and superstar athletes, but it’s playing drums and writing songs for my unsigned, money-sucking rock band that’s brought me my greatest sense of personal triumph. When I wrote “I’ve Got Friends” in 5 minutes, I knew at least I’d created something undeniably great, and that will be with me forever. Music hurts me a lot, but she’ll never leave me. I suppose a cat wouldn’t either, though.

LMN: Never underestimate a cat. Now who’s the most neurotic member of the band?

Steve Coy: Unquestionably me. The days and weeks leading up to a big show, I want to jump off a cliff, until we play our first note, then it’s smooth as eggs! Davin is neurotic in a different way, more of a Rain Man, I’d play guitar for 16 hours a day if I could kind of way.

LMN: I think I know the answer to this but I’ll ask anyway: what band do you want to be bigger than?

Steve Coy: Foster The Fucking People. I want to stomp them out of humanity’s collective musical memory, and you can print it exactly like that. They are the opposite of, say, Young The Giant or Saint Motel, to name two other LA “indie-whatever-pop-rock” bands that would probably get booked on a festival with FTP but who wipe the floor with them in every conceivable way.

LMN: Final and most important question: cheese or cotton candy?

Steve Coy: Cheese–my goodness, what an invention! The first person to willingly eat the solid by-products of fermented milk–that’s a brave human.

This is the stuff of greatness or insanity, folks. Either way, you can catch it in the live on March 8th at the Troubadour when Bethpage Black rock out along with the amazing Crash Kings. Get a ticket or two right here: http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/94703

 

This interview was conducted by friend of Local Music Nation, Trina N. Green (AKA @dharma69 also of High Voltage Magazine and The Owl Magazine).